MOST people take the lift to the top of the tallest building in New York.

But every year one small band of runners volunteer to sprint up the 86 flights of stairs as part of the gruelling race dubbed the “vertical marathon”.

Fundraiser Michael Downes took on the challenge to conquer what was once the tallest skyscraper on the planet.

Michael, a manager at KPMG in Newcastle, ran up 1,576 steps of the towering structure in one of the world’s most bizarre races.

Even taking the lift involves an epic journey skywards, but the 31-year-old decided that was too easy and joined other competitors in a dash to the top in the quickest time possible.

He reached the roof in just under 20 minutes - putting him as one of the fastest of the 400 entrants.

Michael, from Lanchester, County Durham, said: “The landmark status of the Empire State Building means I’ve had a lot of interest in my run and I was very excited to be able to tackle such a steep challenge.

“It was extremely hard work and when I finally reached the top, cloudy weather meant I missed out on a view of New York.

“But I’m thrilled to have successfully achieved the run and to have beaten my fundraising target of £100 for each floor.

“Next time I visit I’ll definitely be taking the lift - which reaches the top in a mere 45 seconds.”

Rather than a staggered beginning, competitors are started with a loud fog horn and it’s every runner for themselves as they dash en masse to the door to the stairwell.

The challenge is renowned for its frenetic nature as dozens of athletes pile up a narrow staircase.

Michael raised almost £10,000 for the British Heart Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Society.